The 2010-2011 Foothills Equine Directory is now available at tack stores, farm supply outlets and the Polk Economic Development office. The Directory is a resource for horse owners with a broad overview of services including facilities, health care, instruction and training, resources, equine related retail, real estate, farm supplies, breeding, sales and others. Sponsored by Foothills Riding Club, the spiral bound resource guide features almost 400 businesses in the area that identify with the equestrian community.

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Dollar General
Dollar General corporation announced in February plans to open 600 new stores this year. The chain, the nations largest retailer by number of stores, plans to create 5,000 new jobs.
In the Thermal Belt area, Dollar General already has stores at 101 Shuford Rd. in Columbus, 1756 Highway 14 in Landrum, 55 Pine St. and 14055 Hwy. 11 in Campobello, and 7854 Hwy. 9 North in Mill Spring.
There is also a Dollar General just west of Saluda at 1942 Spartanburg Hwy. in East Flat Rock.
Some Saluda residents are organizing to oppose the zoning request.
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The Mimosa Inn Restaurant
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Kathleens Gallery
Kathleen Carson and Bill Crowell have been busy renovating the space that had been a barbershop at least since the 1940s. Owner, Rick Dunn, recalled that some Saturdays after WWII the barbers would be busy until 11 p.m. The six-station barbershop still has two showers in the back. The new gallery plans to keep the barber stations and mirrors so it will continue to show a bit of the buildings history.
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A farming couple has opened an organic farm store in Rutherfordton in an effort to provide a wide range of products to farmers and gardeners in Polk, Burke, McDowell, Buncombe and Rutherford counties. Rich and Deborah Davis established the Earthperks store at 975 Poors Ford Road.
The Davises started the store because they could not find organic fertilizer and other “amendments” close by. “We thought, Lets get enough for everyone,” Davis said. Supporting local organic farmers is a major goal of Earthperks, which also carries seeds and other organic materials needed by gardeners and farmers.
The store offers products here for sustainable farmers, everything from seed to fertilizer, Davis said. In the future, they plan to offer organic beef, chicken and pork. Earthperks also offers cover crop seed, garden seeds, botanicals, natural pest controls “safer pest controls” and transplants.
The store will open from “dawn to dusk” on Thursday through Saturday. Davis said farmers may call anytime if they need a particular product.
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The Community Foundation of Henderson County has awarded the Pardee Hospital Foundation a grant of $3,900 to assist in the upcoming renovation of the orthopedic unit. The overall project for Pardee Hospital will add 5 patient rooms and expand the therapy space in the orthopedic wing where the Joint Replacement Center is located. The grant provided by the Community Foundation will assist in purchasing needed equipment specifically the renovated therapy room.
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The Asheville Regional Airport Authority
From 557,927 passengers in 2008 to 580,630 in 2009, AVL saw an increase despite the challenging economic climate. Aiding in the upswing was the addition of two new carriers (AirTran and United) and three new destinations (Chicago, LaGuardia, and Orlando).
“Thanks to the Western North Carolina community and the travelers who chose to use Asheville Regional Airport, we had a positive year in 2009,” says Lew Bleiweis, A.A.E., Airport Director. “We are looking forward to more growth in 2010 and the opportunity to serve our passengers in the coming months.”reports a 4.1% increase in passenger traffic for the 2009 calendar year. The substantial boost over the 2008 figure resulted in more than 20,000 additional passengers. is planning to open on April 1st in the old Tryon barbershop on Trade St. will begin tomorrow, March 16th, offering lunch Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Owner Stephanie Ott also announced that an expanded dinner menu will be offered Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., starting this Friday. has applied for a zoning permit to establish a new store on 1.3 acres along Ozone Drive in Saluda. A new store is also planned in Tryon, next to the former Plenty of Fish restaurant, the old Sunnydale log building on South Trade Street.